CN107284772B

CN107284772B - Apparatus and method for transferring a print carrier to the lateral surface of a cigarette pack

Info

Publication number: CN107284772B
Application number: CN201611197675.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·施蒂勒; M·比朔夫; D·弗斯特曼
Original assignee: Falk & Co ltd
Current assignee: Falk & Co ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-12
Filing date: 2016-11-11
Publication date: 2021-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-11
Also published as: CN107284772A; DE102015121527A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for transferring a printing support (11), in particular a label (tax stamp), a coupon, an insert or the like, to a side surface of a cigarette pack (10), wherein the device has a transport device, in particular a positioning roller (34), for transporting the printing support (11), which holds the printing support (11) on its circumferential surface (42), preferably by means of underpressure, for transfer to the side surface of the cigarette pack (10) facing the positioning roller (34), characterized in that the transport device has a holding device (43) for holding the printing support (11) on the transport device and arranged on the transport device in a rotatable manner, in order to change the orientation of the printing support (11) relative to the transport device while the printing support (11) is held by the holding device (43).

Description

Apparatus and method for transferring a print carrier to the lateral surface of a cigarette pack

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for transferring print carriers, in particular labels (tax stamps), coupons, inserts, etc., to the side surface of cigarette packs, wherein the device has a transport device for transporting the print carriers. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Background

In the present application, a printed carrier is understood to mean each blank, preferably made of a packaging material, for attachment to a cigarette packet. They include, inter alia, tax stamps, coupons, labels, inserts, etc. The print carrier does not necessarily have printed matter thereon.

For example, for transferring tax stamps onto the side surface of the box, a practical problem is: different countries have different requirements as to the position and orientation in which the tax stamp must be arranged on the box.

The operation of transferring and applying the tax stamps can be carried out as disclosed, for example, in DE102006001800a 1. In this case, the tax stamps are removed from the magazine one by one and transferred from the removal roller to the registration roller, which finally transfers the tax stamps to the cigarette packs. This device is suitable for arranging tax stamps in two completely different positions on the pack, that is either "in the corners" as shown in fig. 1, or completely in the side areas of the pack of large surface area as shown in fig. 2.

However, according to recent legal provisions, tax stamps must be applied completely in narrow side surface areas in many countries. It is against this background that a solution has been developed according to DE102009018561a 1. The box is rotated by means of the pivoting means so that the narrow side surface of the box faces the positioning roller, so that the tax stamp can be applied thereto.

Furthermore, DE102009020258a1 also discloses a device for transferring tax stamps to the narrow side surfaces of the cigarette packs. In the case of this solution, the packets of cigarettes are rotated several times in succession during transport, on the one hand to apply the tax stamps and on the other hand to ensure correct orientation for further processing.

In practice, there is a need for a packaging machine capable of producing packets of cigarettes for different markets (i.e. with the positioning of different tax stamps). The machine is therefore adapted accordingly with as little expenditure as possible. Here, it should also be noted that the space available in existing machines is often very limited, which means that some of the solutions described above cannot be used.

Disclosure of Invention

Taking the above as a starting point, it is an object of the present invention to further improve a device and a method of the type mentioned in the introduction, in particular with regard to flexible positioning of the print carrier.

In order to achieve this object, the device according to the invention for transferring a print carrier onto a side surface of a cigarette pack has a transport device for transporting the print carrier, namely a positioning roller, which is held by underpressure on its circumferential surface for transfer onto a side surface of the cigarette pack facing the positioning roller, the transport device having a holding device for holding the print carrier on the transport device, which is arranged rotatably on the transport device for changing the orientation of the print carrier relative to the transport device while the print carrier is held by the holding device, and which can be rotated about an axis extending perpendicularly to the side surface of the transport device holding the print carrier, wherein the print carrier is held on the holding device by underpressure, it being provided according to the invention that the transport device has two holding devices, namely, on the one hand, rotatably arranged holding means and, on the other hand, second holding means, in order to be able to further hold the print carrier in different orientations in the conveyor-side surface region, and the two holding means can be activated independently of one another, wherein the rotatably arranged holding means can be permanently activated in order to hold and rotate the print carrier while it is held on the conveyor, and the second holding means can be activated in order to hold and/or process the print carrier, and the second holding means can be deactivated in order to rotate the print carrier. The second holding means are formed by groups of suction holes which open into the side surface of the transport device and are arranged in a manner corresponding to the intended orientation of the print carrier in order to hold the print carrier in different orientations on the transport device together with the rotatably arranged holding means.

The conveying device can be, for example, a positioning roller, which is known from the prior art and can be suitably modified. However, it is also conceivable that the rotatable holding device can be integrated in other transport devices, for example in the removal roller described in the introduction for feeding the print carrier to the registration roller. Fundamentally, however, the conveying device can also be a non-roller mechanism or can be a mechanism that is not driven in rotation.

Preferably, the holding device is rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to a lateral surface of the transport device holding the print carrier.

It is also preferred that the print carrier is held on the holding device by means of underpressure.

A special feature is that the transport device has two holding devices, namely a rotatable holding device and a second holding device, in order to further hold the print carrier in different orientations in the area of the transport device side surface. The two different types of holding means preferably grip the print carrier in different areas or portions, for example in separate but adjacent areas.

According to a further development, the two holding devices can be activated independently of one another, wherein the rotatable holding device can be activated permanently in order to hold and rotate the print carrier while it is held on the transport device, and the second holding device can be activated in order to hold and/or process the print carrier and the second holding device can be deactivated in order to rotate the print carrier.

Furthermore, the transport device is equipped with a sensor for sensing the orientation of the print carrier, wherein the second holding device can be closed for correcting a mis-positioning determined by the sensor, in order to rotationally correct the orientation of the print carrier by means of the rotatable holding device.

A further preferred configuration of the second holding device is arranged adjacent to the rotatable holding device in a fixed manner, in particular in order to hold the print carrier in two positions in which the orientation of the print carrier is rotated by 90 ° relative to one another.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the conveying device is formed by a positioning roller, which has a plurality of holding devices, which are preferably distributed uniformly over the circumferential surface, and each holding device is equipped with a second holding device.

In order to enable the apparatus to be particularly suitable for different cigarette pack sizes, the relative position of the conveying means can be adjusted, in particular by arranging the conveying means on a panel which is preferably adjustable in three directions or along three axes.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the holding device can be rotated by the same drive, in particular a servo drive.

In a preferred embodiment, the transport device can be formed by a positioning roller which is rotatably arranged in the housing, wherein preferably the circumferential surface of the positioning roller, which holds the print carrier by the holding device, is arranged substantially in alignment with the outside of the housing, and wherein the positioning roller has passages or openings therein for supplying the holding device with underpressure, and wherein the housing has corresponding passages or openings therein which, with corresponding alignment with the passages and openings in the positioning roller, can feed the underpressure, so that the activation of the holding device can be controlled upon rotation of the positioning roller.

Another preferred special feature is: the holding device has a concave abutment surface for the print carrier, on which the periphery of the print carrier outside the area of the concave abutment surface of the holding device is separated from the transport device, in particular when the second holding device is stopped.

The method according to the invention for transferring a print carrier onto a side surface of a cigarette pack, wherein the print carrier is conveyed by a conveying device, i.e. by a positioning roller, the print carrier is held by underpressure on the circumferential surface of the positioning roller for transfer onto the side surface of the cigarette pack facing the positioning roller, the orientation of the print carrier is changed by a holding device, which is mounted rotatably on the conveying device, while the print carrier is held by the holding device of the conveying device, wherein the print carrier is first fed to the holding device and held thereon by underpressure, and thereafter a second holding device is activated to further hold the print carrier on the conveying device. The method is carried out with the apparatus according to the invention.

Preferably, the print carrier is first fed to the holding device and held thereon by the underpressure, after which the second holding device is activated to further hold the print carrier on the transport device.

Preferably, the print carrier is processed after activation of the second holding means, in particular by cutting the sub-assembly to form weakening lines.

Thereafter, the second holding device is stopped so that the print carrier is rotated by the holding device.

After the rotation of the print carrier, the second holding means can be activated again to fix the print carrier in the correct position on the holding means for transferring the print carrier to the cigarette pack.

Preferably, the print carrier is rotated by the holding device about an axis extending perpendicularly to the side surface of the transport device holding the print carrier.

Furthermore, the holding devices are rotated by means of servomotors, wherein in the case of a dual-path conveyor the holding devices present in the different paths are driven by the respective servomotors. Thus, if it is desired to orient the print carrier in only one path, the holding devices within each path can be rotated independently.

Drawings

The invention will be described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the packet, with tax stamps in the surface area of the narrow sides of the packet,

fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the cigarette pack, with tax stamps in the rear region of the pack,

fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the device for transferring tax stamps onto a packet, wherein the device is shown in a first configuration for applying the tax stamps on the narrow side surfaces of the packet,

figure 4 shows a side view of the apparatus according to arrow IV in figure 3,

fig. 5 shows a side view of the apparatus according to arrow IV in fig. 3, wherein the apparatus is configured for applying tax stamps on the side of a large surface area cartridge,

figure 6 shows an enlarged view of a detail of the apparatus in the area VI in figure 4,

fig. 7 shows a side view of the registration roller, schematically illustrating the control of the tax stamp holder,

figure 8 shows a longitudinal section through the positioning roll along section line VIII-VIII in figure 7,

figures 9-10 show an enlarged detail of the registration roller of figure 8 in the area IX in the various successive stages of the transfer of the tax stamp,

figure 11 shows a schematic view showing the orientation of the tax stamp with respect to the narrow side surface of the packet,

figure 12 shows the double-path positioning roller in a longitudinal section corresponding to the schematic illustration of figure 8,

figure 13 shows another schematic representation showing tax stamp orientation.

Detailed Description

The invention will be described below with reference to an apparatus for transferring tax stamps onto the side surface of a packet 10. However, since the present invention is not limited to the conveyance of such blanks, the following description will be made with reference to the conveyance of the print carrier 11. The printed support 11 is understood to mean the above-mentioned tax stamp, label in a broad sense, coupon, insert, etc., which can be applied to the surface of the packet, in particular the packet 10. The printing support 11 can be made of packaging material, such as paper, sheet, cardboard, etc., but also from combinations of the above materials, this is not a limiting list. The print carrier 11 may or may not have decorative or informative content printed thereon. The print carrier 11 may already have an adhesive layer or adhesive surface or may be provided with adhesive during transport. Alternatively, of course, the cigarette pack 10 may also be provided with an adhesive to secure the print carrier 11 to the cigarette pack 10.

Figures 1 and 2 show a variant of the arrangement of the print carrier 11 (in this case a tax stamp) on the packet 10. The cigarette pack 10 is shown as a hinge lid pack. Here, the cigarette box 10 is of cuboid design, with a box part 12 at the bottom and a lid 13 at the top, which are pivotally connected to each other by a straight line joint 14.

The packet 10 has an end wall 15 on the upper side of the lid 13 and, opposite thereto, a bottom wall 16 on the box portion 12. There is also a large surface area front side 17 formed by a lid front wall 18 and a box front wall 19. The rear side 20 is formed opposite the front side 17 and includes a lid rear wall 21 and a box rear wall 22. The linear bond 14 extends between the lid rear wall 21 and the box rear wall 22. The other two side surfaces of the packet 10 are so-called narrow side surfaces 23, 24, which are opposite each other and are formed by a lid side wall 25 and a box side wall 26. In the region of the narrow side surfaces 23, 24, an inclined closing edge extends between the lid 13 and the box portion 12.

In this application, the side surfaces of the cartridge 10 refer to the front side 17, the rear side 20, the narrow side surfaces 23, 24, the end wall 15 and the bottom wall 16.

In the region of one of the two narrow side surfaces 23, a print carrier 11 in the form of a tax stamp is applied to the cigarette pack 10. The print carrier 11 extends only in the region of the narrow side surface 23, i.e. in particular (also) not in the region of the front side 17, the rear side 20 or the end wall 15. In the region of the inclined closing edge between the cover 13 and the box part 12, the print carrier 11 extends over substantially the entire width of the narrow side surface 23. Thus, the print carrier 11 is damaged when the packet 10 is opened for the first time. To make the first opening or first use of the packet 10 easier, the printed carrier 11 has a weakening line 27 formed along the closing edge. The print carrier 11 is glued to the packet 10, for example by glue.

The cigarette package 10 shown in fig. 2 differs from the cigarette package 10 shown in fig. 1 only in the location of the printed carrier 11. In fig. 2, the print carrier 11 is (completely) located in the area of the rear side 20 of the cigarette pack 10, to be precise centrally and flush with the linear bond 14. Of course, the print carrier 11 may be arranged eccentrically. It is also not necessary to overlap the linear bond 14.

The basic structure of the apparatus shown in fig. 3 is known from DE102009018561a1 of the applicant, cited in the preamble. For full disclosure, please refer to this application in detail. The content of this application is hereby included in the subject matter of the present application.

According to the above cited document, the basic procedure is to transfer the packets 10 to the conveying path 29 by means of a star rotary feeder 28. Arranged in the region of the transport path 29 are pivoting means 30 which lift the packs 10 from the transport path 29 and invert the packs 10 with the narrow side surfaces 23 towards application means 31 for applying the print carrier 11, in which case the print carrier 11 can be applied to the narrow side surfaces 23.

The basic structure of the application device 31 is known from DE102006001800a1 cited in the introduction. For full disclosure, please refer to this application in detail. The content of this application is hereby included in the subject matter of the present application.

The necessary components are a tax stamp cartridge 32, a rotationally driven take-off roller 33, a rotationally driven registration roller 34, a glue application subassembly 35, and a cutting subassembly 36. The removal roller 33 removes the print carriers 11 from the tax stamp magazine 32 sheet by sheet and transfers them to the registration roller 34. Then, on the circumference of the positioning roller 34, the print carrier 11 is first weakened by the cutting sub-assembly 36 to form the weakening lines 27, the print carrier 11 is then glued by the gluing sub-assembly 35, and the print carrier 11 is then fed to the packet 10. The print carrier 11 is transferred to the pack 10 as the pack 10 is guided along the underside of the registration roller 34. Here, the transport of the print carriers 11 and the transport of the packs 10 are synchronized with one another so that the print carriers 11 are always finally in the desired position on the packs 10.

A device designed according to DE102006001800a1, as described in this document, can be used to provide the cigarette pack 10 with a print carrier 11 in the region of the narrow side surfaces.

If the print carrier 11 is to be affixed in the area of the rear side 20 of the pack 10, the device requires only minor modifications. Such a scheme is shown in fig. 5. First, it can be seen that the pivoting means 30 have been removed, i.e. at least the holder for holding the cartridge 10 and the parts of the gear mechanism responsible for controlling the holder have been removed. Further, in the former holder operation region, the bridge 37 is provided for the conveyance path 29 to make the conveyance path 29 continuous. The cutting subassembly 36 can be deactivated, since the weakening line 27 is no longer required in the case of a flat-lying orientation of the print carrier 11.

In addition, the registration roller 34 needs to be lowered so that the print carrier 11 can be transferred directly to the cigarette pack 10. For this purpose, the entire application device 31 is arranged on a panel 38 which is adjustable in three directions or along three

axes

39, 40, 41, that is to say about an X axis 39, a Y axis 40 and a Z axis 41. In this example, the panel 38 and therefore the application device 31 and/or the positioning roller 34 are lowered in the direction of the Y-axis 40, so that the positioning roller 34 is arranged in the conveying path 29 at a suitable (small) distance above the packets 10.

One particular feature necessary relates to the positioning roller 34, which will be described below with reference to fig. 6 to 12. As is customary in the art, the print carrier 11 is held in the region of the circumferential surface 42 of the registration roller 34 by means of underpressure. For this purpose, suitable holding means 43 provided for the registration roller 34 are used. The present exemplary embodiment provides two holding devices 43 that are arranged opposite to each other on the positioning roller 34. As soon as a print carrier 11 is transferred from the take-off roller 33 onto the registration roller 34, the holding device 34 is activated, so that the respective print carrier 11 is held on the respective holding device 43 or on the registration roller 34 by the negative pressure. In order to transfer the print carrier 11 to the pack 10, the underpressure is correspondingly relieved.

One particular feature of the retaining device 43 is that: the holding device 43 is mounted rotatably in order to be able to change the orientation of the print carrier 11 during transport over the circumferential surface of the positioning roller 34. In this case, the corresponding rotational capability of the holding device 43 enables the print carrier 11 to rotate about an axis extending perpendicularly to the circumferential surface 42 of the positioning roller 34. The print carrier 11 can thus be rotated (approximately) 90 °, so that an arrangement corresponding to the solution of fig. 2 results.

In other words, it should be pointed out that instead of changing the orientation of the printed carriers 11 within the magazine 32 or the orientation of the magazine 32 itself, the orientation of the printed carriers 11 is changed during the transport to the cigarette pack 10.

Of course, it is not necessary to change the orientation of the print carrier 11 in the region of the registration roller 34; instead, the change can also be made in the region of the removal roller 33. Likewise, the described scheme can be used in other transmission devices as well. Therefore, if the description is made with reference to implementation in the registration roller 34 in the example embodiment, this is of course only an example of a broad conveyor.

As can be seen from fig. 8, two holding devices 43 located opposite each other are driven by the same drive device 44. The drive means 44 is connected to a drive shaft 45, which drive shaft 45 drives the two holding means 43 synchronously via a bevel gear mechanism 46.

The negative pressure is fed to the holding device 43 through a channel 47 in the positioning roller 34. The channel 47 terminates in a suction hole 48 in the end surface of the retainer 43, the suction hole 48 being generally flush with the circumferential surface 42 of the positioning roller 34. In this example, each holding device 43 has four suction holes 48, which are arranged in a square of two rows and two columns.

A further special feature is that, in addition to the rotatable holding device 43, a further holding device 49 is provided, which likewise serves to temporarily hold the print carrier 11 on the circumference of the registration roller 34. For a clearer distinction, this further holding device 49 will be referred to below as a so-called second holding device 49.

The second holding device 49 is arranged adjacent to the holding device 43 in a fixed and/or non-rotatable state. The second retaining means 49 are arranged on the circumference of the registration roller 34 in a manner corresponding to the two intended orientations of the print carrier 11. In this case, the second holding device 49 is formed by two

sets

50, 51 of suction openings 52 which open into the circumferential surface 42 of the positioning roller 34. Here, each

group

50, 51 has six suction apertures 52, which are arranged in a rectangle of two rows and three columns. Furthermore, the two

groups

50, 51 are arranged at different radial positions relative to the rotatable holding device 43, that is to say at 90 °, in a manner corresponding to the two intended orientations of the print carrier 11.

Of course, the number and arrangement of the suction holes 52 may vary as appropriate, especially depending on the size and shape of the print carrier 11. Likewise, a different number of

sets

50, 51 may be provided. In the extreme case, the suction opening 52 can also extend around or surround the second retaining means 49.

The second holding means 49 can also be supplied with negative pressure through a channel 53 in the positioning roller 34.

A particular feature of the retaining device 43 can be obtained from the schematic illustrations of fig. 8, 9 and 10. According to these figures, the retaining means 43 have a substantially concave upper side, which serves as an abutment surface for the print carrier 11. The shape of the abutment surface ensures: as long as the second holding device 49 is not activated, the transverse circumference of the print carrier 11 is lifted from the circumferential surface 42 (fig. 9) due to the rigidity of the print carrier material. This means that: the print carrier 11 can be rotated by the holding device 43 without the risk of tilting due to abutment with the circumferential surface 42 or friction on the circumferential surface 42. If the second holding device 49 is then activated again, the portion of the print carrier 11 which projects transversely into the region of the second holding device 49 is again held on the circumferential surface 42.

Another special feature can be derived from the control of the holding

devices

43, 49 during the transport of the print carrier 11 over the circumference of the registration roller 34. The positioning roller 34 is mounted laterally into the housing 54 or on both sides into the housing 54, wherein the circumferential surface 42 of the positioning roller 34 is arranged in general alignment with the housing 54. The housing 54 comprises control tracks 55, 56 for controlling the underpressure of the holding means 43, 49. In the manner of a control curve, the control tracks 55, 56 ensure that the feeding of the underpressure to the

respective holding device

43, 49 is started or stopped depending on the angular position of the positioning roller 34. Upon activation of the negative pressure, the

channels

47, 53 in the positioning roller 34 are connected to corresponding channels 57, 58 in the housing and to a source of negative pressure.

The precise control of the holding means 43, 49 during rotation of the positioning roller 34 is schematically shown in fig. 7. This figure shows

control trajectories

55, 56 for the retaining device 43 and the second retaining device 49, respectively, the corresponding "switching point" or angular position for starting and stopping the feeding of the negative pressure. Here, the radially inner control path 55 is used for controlling the rotatable holding means 43, while the radially outer control path 56 is used for controlling the second holding means 49. The specific details are as follows.

In the case of the control track 55, at the angular position α, a negative pressure is activated, so that the print carrier 11 can be received from the take-off roller 33 and held on the circumference of the registration roller 34. At this point, the second retaining means 49 has not yet been activated. The print carrier 11 is gripped and fixed in the peripheral region only by the rotatable holding device 43 (fig. 9).

The second retaining means 49 are activated in the angular position β, so that the print carrier 11 is retained by the two retaining means 43, 49 (fig. 10), for example to detect the presence of the print carrier 11 by means of sensors 59 arranged on the circumference of the positioning roller 34 and/or to form the weakening line 27 on the print carrier 11 by the downstream cutting subassembly 36.

In the angular position γ, the further holding device 49 is stopped in order to change the orientation of the print carrier 11 by rotation of the holding device 43, if necessary.

In the angular position δ, both holding

devices

43, 49 are activated again, for example, in order to be able to detect the orientation of the print carrier 11. For this purpose, suitable sensors 60, for example suitable cameras, can be arranged on the circumference of the positioning roller 34.

Between the next two angular positions epsilon and zeta, the orientation of the print carrier 11 can be corrected, if necessary (fig. 11). Here, the second holding device 49 is stopped and the orientation is changed by the rotatable holding device 43. Thereafter, the second retaining means 49 are reactivated until the print carrier 11 is transferred to the packet 10.

To transfer the print carrier 11 to the packet 10, first, at the angular position η, the rotatable retaining means 43 are stopped, and shortly after that, the second retaining means 49 are stopped at the angular position θ.

The procedure described above can be used both for the solution with pivoting means 30 as shown in fig. 7 and for the solution without pivoting means 30 as shown in fig. 5.

As can also be seen in fig. 8, the positioning roller 34 is mounted between the two parts of the housing 54 by means of a compression spring 61. Further, a carbonaceous slide plate 62 is disposed between the housing 54 and the positioning rollers 34.

Furthermore, fig. 9 shows that the suction opening 48 is closed by a sealing ring 63 arranged on an abutment surface or end surface of the holding device 43.

Fig. 11 shows a wrongly oriented print carrier 11, the orientation of which deviates from the desired position by an angle k. The above-mentioned mis-positioning can occur, for example, when the print carrier 11 has been rotated incorrectly, or even when there is mis-positioning during the transfer of the print carrier 11. It is also conceivable that incorrect positioning can also occur when forming the weakening line 27. The desired position of the print carrier 11, in particular the distance X from the end wall 15 of the packet 10, can also be varied by adjusting the panel 38.

Fig. 12 shows a solution for a double-path positioning roller 34, which functions in a comparable manner to the single-path positioning roller shown in fig. 8. Like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

A particular feature is that the actuation of the retaining means 43 is controlled individually, in particular for each path.

Fig. 13 schematically shows an alternative method for determining a possible oblique positioning of the print carrier 11. Two triangulation laser sensors are used here to determine the position of the print carrier 11 after it has been positioned on the holding device 43. The sensor senses the print carrier 11 or its peripheral edge along two sensing paths 64, 65 which extend parallel to each other separated by a distance X. The skew positioning of the print carrier 11 results in a distance Y from which the skew positioning of the print carrier 11 can be calculated. Accordingly, the angle by which the print carrier 11 should be rotated can be corrected. Fig. 13 here shows the correction angle k correspondingly in a manner similar to that shown in fig. 11.

In summary, it should be noted that the holding means 43, 49 may of course also be operated mechanically, for example, and not necessarily pneumatically. Furthermore, a 90 ° rotation angle of the print carrier 11 should be considered only for the purpose of example. For other applications, the angle of rotation may be varied as desired. It is also conceivable that there may be a plurality of different angles of rotation. For example, the device may also be used to apply a sticker, label or other printed carrier 11 to the front side region of the pack or other pack surface. In particular, in this case, the orientation of the print carrier 11 can also be corrected arbitrarily by means of (printed) markings.

List of reference numerals:

10 cigarette packet 38 panel

11 print carrier 39 axis

12 axle 40 box

13 cover 41 shaft

Peripheral surface of the 14-line joint portion 42

15 end wall 43 retention means

16 bottom wall 44 driving device

17 front 45 drive shaft

18 cover front wall 46 gear mechanism

19 box front wall 47 channel

20 rear side 48 suction hole

21 cover back wall 49 retention means

22 rear wall 50 set of boxes

23 narrow side surface 51 group

24 narrow side surface 52 suction hole

25 cover side wall 53 channel

26 box side wall 54 housing

27 lines of weakness 55 control trajectory

28 Star rotary feeder 56 control trajectory

29 conveying path 57 channel

30 pivot device 58 channel

31 applicator 59 sensor

32 tax stamp box 60 sensor

33 removal roller 61 compression spring

34 positioning roller 62 carbon slide plate

35 rubber coating subassembly 63 sealing washer

36 cutting subassembly 64 sensing path

37 bridge 65 sensing path

Claims

1. An apparatus for transferring a print carrier (11) onto a side surface of a cigarette pack (10), wherein the apparatus has a transport device, i.e. a positioning roller (34), for transporting the print carrier (11), the print carrier (11) being held by underpressure on a circumferential surface (42) of the positioning roller for transfer onto the side surface of the cigarette pack (10) facing the positioning roller (34), the transport device having a holding device (43) for holding the print carrier (11) on the transport device, the holding device being arranged on the transport device in a rotatable manner for changing the orientation of the print carrier (11) relative to the transport device while the print carrier (11) is held by the holding device (43), and the holding device (43) being rotatable about an axis extending perpendicularly to the side surface of the transport device holding the print carrier (11), wherein, holding the printing support (11) on the holding device (43) by means of underpressure, characterized in that the transport device has two holding devices (43, 49), namely on the one hand a rotatably arranged holding device (43) and on the other hand a second holding device (49), in order to be able to further hold the printing support (11) in different orientations in the transport device side surface region, and the two holding devices (43, 49) can be activated independently of one another, wherein the rotatably arranged holding device (43) can be activated permanently in order to hold and rotate the printing support (11) while the printing support (11) is held on the transport device, and the second holding device (49) can be activated in order to hold and/or process the printing support (11), and the second holding device can be deactivated in order to rotate the printing support (11), wherein the second holding means (49) are formed by groups (50, 51) of suction holes (52) which open into the side surface of the transport device and are arranged in a manner corresponding to the intended orientation of the print carrier (11) in order to hold the print carrier in a different orientation on the transport device together with the rotatably arranged holding means (43).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport device is equipped with a sensor (60) for sensing the orientation of the print carrier (11), wherein the second holding device (49) can be switched off for correcting a wrong positioning determined by the sensor (60), so that the orientation of the print carrier (11) can be corrected rotationally by the rotatably arranged holding device (43).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a second holding device (49) is arranged in a fixed manner adjacent to the rotatably arranged holding device (43) for holding the print carrier (11) in at least two positions in which the orientation of the print carrier is rotated by 90 ° relative to each other.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatably arranged holding means (43) and the second holding means (49) can be driven by the same drive means (44).

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning roller (34) is rotatably arranged in a housing (54), wherein the circumferential surface (42) of the positioning roller (34), which holds the print carrier (11) by means of a rotatably arranged holding device (43), is arranged substantially in alignment with the outside of the housing (54), and wherein channels (47, 53) or holes are arranged in the positioning roller (34) for supplying the two holding devices (43, 49) with underpressure, and wherein corresponding channels (57, 58) or holes are arranged in the housing (54) for feeding the underpressure in a corresponding alignment with the channels (47, 53) or holes in the positioning roller (34), so that the activation of the two holding devices (43, 49) can be controlled upon rotation of the positioning roller (34).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatably arranged holding means (43) has a concave abutment surface for the print carrier (11), so that when the second holding means (49) is stopped, the periphery of the print carrier (11) outside the abutment surface area of the rotatably arranged holding means (43) is at a distance from the conveying means as a result of the print carrier (11) abutting the concave abutment surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the print carrier is a tax stamp, coupon, label, or insert.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said drive means (44) are servo drive means.

9. Method for transferring a print carrier (11) onto a side surface of a cigarette pack (10) using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the printing carrier (11) is transported by a transport device, i.e. by a positioning roller (34), the printing support (11) is held on the circumferential surface (42) of the positioning roller by means of underpressure for transfer to the side surface of the cigarette pack (10) facing the positioning roller (34), changing the orientation of the print carrier (11) by means of the rotatably arranged holding device (43) while holding the print carrier (11) by means of the rotatably arranged holding device (43) of the transport device, wherein the print carrier (11) is first fed to a rotatably arranged holding device (43) and held on the holding device by means of underpressure, and thereafter the second holding means (49) is activated to further hold the print carrier (11) on the transport means.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the print carrier (11) is processed after activation of the second holding device (49).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that after processing the print carrier (11), the second holding means (49) is stopped to rotate the print carrier (11) by means of the rotatably arranged holding means (43).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that after rotation of the print carrier (11), the second retaining means (49) are activated again to fix the print carrier (11) in the correct position on the conveyor to transfer it to the box.

13. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the weakening line (27) is formed on the print carrier (11) by cutting the sub-assembly (36) after activation of the second holding means (49).